Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-13

o!Ahco thelf Joy at your presence by dis
playing their most gorgeous hues ant
diifusing their sweetest perfumes. Aftel
this what words of mine can add to tn,
warmth OF your reception? 1 feel proud
to be honored by the call to address this
vast assemblage. where are gathered our
fairest and best. We are ali intent upon
doing our devoirs to the incarnation OF
spripg, manifested by these banks OF
: roses, exhaling their altar, those lily
chalices instllling their lesson of purity.
these wondrous combinations of rainbow.
hued flowers pouring out their sweet
libations. Gaze on this incompatible
variety OF flowers, ranging from the
e gaudiest in coloring to the plainest, from
the most majestic to the humblest, and
what thoughts naturally arise within us?
We may safely say that, as in
viewing these flowers, we primari.
ly consider their Maker, SO, sec.
ondarlly will we reflect on
the great State which has been destined
for their cradle land. What q region of
benediction is this, OVERLOOKING, you
may say. with beauties of every descrip-
ton. Verify, she merits the name Cali.
fornia, which signifies "beauty bearer. I"
On her broad bosom she bears the tro-
phies of all climes, the fruits and flowers
OF all zones; but wide as are the acres
her long arms enfold, we claim Southern
California to be the center of warmth,
the fountain head of excellence, With
all due Difference to the northern coun.
ties, we challenge them to surpass rs in
horticultural productions. We salute
you, ladies and gentlemen, visitors from
the bleak regions of winter, with the
breath of spring, emansting from these
parterres of flowers, which remind us of
fairy-land. To the patrons whose energy
aRd skill have spread before us this pan.
Drama of loveliness, this kaleidoscope
maze of color, breathing incense like
blessing, what need of praise shall we
not offer? Is not this evanescent beauty
and perfume after all typical of what IS
noble and lasting? As from the spicy
blossom comes the luscious fruit, so
from these dainty. perishable blooms
there will spring the choicest
fruits of charity and usefusness. The
incense arising to heaven from noble |
deeds is as sweet as the breath of balmy |
spring time. At the feet of those whose |
able, untiring efforts have crowned this
grand undertaking with deserved success,
we lay our tribute of appreciation.
Theirs is noble mission to help their
struggling sisters, and all our hearts
echo the prayer for its ful6lment. We
tender due thanks to all whose offerings
have added to this sea of exquisite color,
these pulsating waves of fragrance, that
eurapture our senses and elevate our
thoughts to the ever.biooming flowers
of Paradise. As we are in no haste to
leave this earthly Paradise, with it's
visions of beauty and manifold delights,
l now invite you to this carnival of
flowers, and thus inaugurate the Flower
Festival,
Judge R. M. Widney followed in a
brief address eulogistic of Los Angeles
and Southern California. The burden
of the Judges remarks looked directly to
the formation of the new State to be
called South California. Music followed
and the great crush of visitors began to
press from one booth to another to in.
spect the lovely flowers which were in
such profusion in the hall.
THE EXHIBIT.
Back of the stage is an immense arch
of palm leaves Of many varieties, and
gathered from the gardens of our citi-
zens, and which strongly mark the
genial semi-tropic character of cline
which permit the cultivation of such
plants in the open air at all seasons of
the year. The gallery which runs
around the entire circuit of the Pavilion
is trimmed oil along its face with ever
greens and callas. The back part of this
gallery is set apart for the ice cream
booth, and this is adorned by three great
pillars, some thirty feet in height,
trimmed to their tops with hundreds of
fine callas. As indicating the vast num-
ber of this queenly flower used in the
exhibit may be mentioned the fact that
on Monday a large farm wagon loaded
with them was driven through the
street. The mass was like load of hay
in its huge bulk. How such fact must
strike an Eastern mind this mid.April
day. as one reflects that these flowers
all bloom here in the open gardens with
not even bit of glass over them.
A brief description of the various
booths is all that can be gwen this morn
ing. They will be taken up from day to
day and more space given each one.
The candy booth is near the stage and
to the right as one faces it. 1t bears
the legend: "Sweets to the Sweet, ""Yum
Yum!" the letters being wrought in
flowers. A notable feature of this stand
is hanging basket wrought of magnii-
cent marigolds.
Directly back of this is the
ORANGE BOOTH,
Being the exhibit of the town of that
iname. That place distinguished
tself last year by fine display
and evidently is determined not to be
outdone on the present occasion. Her
sisters of the great valley, Santa Ana and
Tustin City, which made such fine dis
plays year ago, are sadly missing this
season. The name 'Orange" is wrought
in geraniums and marguerites. There
is q maltese cross Of rare beauty,
wrought of sweet Alice and superb pan
sizes In the exhibit there is great
wealth of wonderful roses of the rarest
varieties, the Malmaison and Jacquemi-
not vieing in their queenly loveliness of
tint and grace of form like a
lovely blond beside splendid |
brunette sister. There are wegelia
sprays and q profusion of tender and
sweet heliotrope. The pillars are
decked with many yellow Banksia roses
and hundreds of callas. There is
harp of arbor vitae and splendid pinks,
with many marguerites, an anchor being
wrought of these flowers. A magnifi-
cent bunch of oranges, raised without
irrigation, is striking and novel sight.
Then comes
THE RAINBOW BOOTH,
Named from great bow made of flow
ers which reaches almost to the roof.
The inner band is composed of purple
verbenas, then comes band OF
fine, violet-colored agnatum and
then one of lilacs, followed by one
of green German ivy. the yellow stripe is
of marigolds. the red of double fish
geraniums, and the pink of the same
flowers of the proper hue. In . hand.
snrea vase Ia n snlendid hnnch of LIans |